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Personal View: Airports need to spread wings

THEY say all politics is local but, arguably, aviation policy in Ireland has been bedevilled by excessive localism for more than 20 years. The start of negotiations on an open area aviation agreement (OAA) between America and the EU sounds a death knell for parochialism in Irish aviation policy because if we do not adopt a suitable national strategic approach we will be left behind.

The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland report published last week, EU/US Air Transport Agreement — Potential Impact on Ireland, is framed in this context. It reflects a growing recognition of two things. First, change is inevitable. Second, the debate is no longer about protecting what we have but identifying opportunities and how to maximise the benefits for Ireland.

A third of US exports leave the country by aircraft, illustrating opportunities for Ireland as an open trading economy that is firmly “plugged into” the American economy. The